Lights Out at the Dome returns to Havre

After nearly a two-year absence, MMA fighting finally returns to Havre with Lights Out at the Dome this Saturday at the Havre Ice Dome. Last year's event was canceled, the return of the Fusion Fight League to the Hi-Line will be more than welcomed by Havre's fighting fans.

"It was a bummer," MSU-N wrestling coach Tyson Thivierge said about not having the event last year. "I think it's a spectacle for Havre, for the community. It's a phenomenal time. Super competitive, good people, a lot of support. Anytime you hold something in Havre, it's always special."

All the bouts Saturday night will be cage matches. The main event of the night will be a fight between Doug Collins and Louie Lopez. They will fight in the 145-pound weight class and their bout will last across three rounds that span five minutes each. Collins is favored to win the match and has a record of 2-1 while Lopez is 0-1, but Thivierge expects both fighters to put on a show.

"Those are two guys that are looking to make a name for themselves," Thivierge said. "I expect fireworks. It's MMA, when you put four-ounce gloves on people inside the cage, everything goes out the windows and it's about time to scrap."

The co-main event will be a bout between Erik Mendez and Chris Wagner. It will be an amateur fight in the 135-pound weight class and will see the fight go three rounds that last three minutes each. Both fighters have winning records as Menez is 6-2 and Wagner is 5-2. Thivierge expects Wagner to get a lot of support from the crowd since he is a native of Townsend, Montana.

"He is super exciting to watch. He's got a lot of support behind him," Thivierge said about Wagner. "He's a well-rounded kid. He's got a good wrestling base. He's a good striker. He's got great grappling."

There will be nine other fights on the main card. Fighting in the 155-pound weight class will be Daeri Alderman and Alan Rea. Alderman is 1-0 while Rea has a record of 4-2. Braeden Tovey and James Dennis will fight in the 170-pound weight class. Tovey heads into the match with a 2-4 record and Dennis is 4-6. Another pair of fighters who will fight at 170 are Dallas Davison and Alex Fenner, who both have not competed in an MMA match yet. Josiah Simpson and Paul Bryant will also fight at 170 as Simpson has a 5-2 record and Bryant will be making his MMA debut.

In the 180-pound weight class, Noah Conners and Dustin Odegard will go at it. Conners is only 1-1 as a fighter while Odegard is just 0-1. Jordan Howland and Joey Wilkinson will fight in the 265-pound class. Wilkinson has a 1-0 record while Howland will be making his MMA debut. Another pair of fights making their MMA debut this Saturday will be Austen Conner and Kaleb Shafer who will fight at 130 pounds.

Joseph Pascale and Brian Benevidez both head into their match with an 0-1 record, fighting at 125 pounds. Kyle Surber will be making his MMA debut when he faces Gavin Gies who is 1-0 as a fighter. They will fight at 165 pounds.

Before the fights begin Saturday night, the fighters will have their weigh-ins tonight at 7 p.m. at Old Station Brewing. Lights Out at the Dome will then begin Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Havre Ice Dome.